Q: What are some current market trends you are seeing, and how do they impact your work? Can you share insights on how these trends align with ULI’s mission and priorities?

A: For the first time in recent memory, housing issues are on the top of the agenda in the DC area and nationally. We know that access to safe, beautiful, affordable housing is important to so many of our neighbors and our community at-large. We at APAH work every day to both build more affordable homes and to provide onsite Resident Services to the more than 5,000 residents who call our properties home. Thanks to many of our colleagues’ contributions to the real estate field, including ULI, HAND, NVAHA and others, we believe this is the moment to chart an ambitious goal to address the housing needs of the region to meet the scale of the challenge.

We’re also seeing increased collaboration between corporations, financial institutions, community organizations, and developers. Amazon’s investment in affordable housing has been game-changing, particularly the magnitude of its investment, the long-term nature of its program and its focus on equity. They have been an excellent partner with us, and we hope that their leadership continues to inspire other businesses to pitch in.

Sustainability is a trend that is here to stay, and ULI’s work in this area has been meaningful. Not only are sustainable building practices critical to the property’s long term durability, but clean air and energy-efficient systems are essential to our health and wellbeing. All of APAH’s new communities are built to EarthCraft and or other Gold standards.

Q: How do you see the level of representation for the Hispanic/Latinx community evolving in your field? What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you, and how do you celebrate it?

 A: As I approach my work at APAH today, many of our residents are like my family—immigrants with children looking to live the American Dream. While I am no longer a child living in an immigrant household in Queens, I am blessed to have a seat at the table now and can work to give other immigrant families the same opportunities that my parents gave me. Among my allies, I am lucky to work with others who work to improve the lives of the 800,000 Latinx community members who live in the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

Q: Can you share some examples of projects you’ve worked on that align with ULI’s mission priorities?

A: Unity Homes at Ballston – Opened earlier this spring, Unity Homes is the result of a partnership with Central United Methodist Church (CUMC). Because of the congregation’s vision and call to serve, they redeveloped their site across from the Ballston-MU metro station into 144 affordable apartments co-located with a modernized church sanctuary, Kinhaven School daycare center, and Provisions Church Catering kitchen.

The Exchange at Spring Hill Station – Our largest project to date, The Exchange will be the first 100% affordable community in Tysons, VA. Thanks to a strong partnership with Fairfax County, the new property will create 516 affordable homes and a 30,000 s.f. public community and recreation center on the ground floor. This project, which is under construction, received funding from Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund, which accelerated the building timeline.

Ilda’s Overlook Senior Residences – This new community in Fairfax County welcomed 80 older adult residents earlier this year. The property’s name, Ilda’s Overlook, is a nod to Black history in Fairfax County. Ilda’s Overlook is our first property to incorporate rooftop solar panels. Other amenities include in-unit washers and dryers, free Wi-Fi access, shared community spaces, a fitness and wellness suite, and community gardens.

Q: What are some current market trends you are seeing, and how do they impact your work? Can you share insights on how these trends align with ULI’s mission and priorities?

A: Two trends we’re focused on in the Americas have been the resurgence of retail and the opportunity in the living space. In retail, we’re now seeing that the winners have been sorted from the losers, and there have been intriguing investment opportunities in the sector. We believe that going forward, e-commerce will be eating into less of brick-and-mortar’s market share, and that long dearth of construction in the sector has set up strong fundamentals for property types like open-air and grocery-anchored retail. On the living side, there is a tremendous lack of homes in the US. Some estimates say that we’re more than 3 million units short. That lack of supply, combined with higher rates and an aging Millennials cohort has provided tailwinds for the living sector, and we’ve already seen a rebound there. This is especially true for single family rentals, which are in-demand as Millennials enter their family formation years, but may be priced out of the for-sale housing market.

Trends in retail and living fit squarely with ULI’s mission of shaping the future of the built environment as these are two community-focused property types. Whether it’s providing communities with the housing they need to grow their families, or the grocery stores they depend on, that could be a winning formula for both investors and the people who use these properties.

Q: How do you see the level of representation for the Hispanic/Latinx community evolving in your field? What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you, and how do you celebrate it?

A: Throughout my career, there has been significant progress made on deeper inclusion of the Hispanic/Latinx community in real estate – but there is still work to be done. The fact is, you need to put the best team on the field to win, and being inclusive is table stakes in that pursuit. There is no overnight solution to bring people of Hispanic heritage into real estate – it’s a long-term goal – but we believe by exposing people to real estate earlier, especially minorities who may not even think of real estate as a career path, we can continue to build on the progress we’ve already seen.

To me, Hispanic Heritage Month is a time for reflection on the wonderful, positive impacts Hispanic and Latinx people have made throughout history and around the world. I’m proud of my heritage, and of the younger generations I see carrying on our traditions and carrying us forward.

Q: Can you share some examples of projects you’ve worked on that align with ULI’s mission priorities?

A: The development of the Historic Gas Plan in St. Petersburg, Florida is a shining example of planning with a community and social focus. With the City of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County, the development plans to cover 86 acres and invest more than $6.5 billion over 20 years, which positions the development to become the largest mixed-use development project in Tampa Bay history.

The development agreement focuses heavily on the equitable, intentional and restorative delivery of community benefits and economic impacts, specifically to honor the legacy of the Historic Gas Plant neighborhood’s residents and businesses. This includes a $50 million commitment to intentional equity initiatives in partnership with South St. Petersburg that include affordable housing funding, employment and business support, education programs and Minority/Women Owned Business Enterprises hiring commitments.